Footwear traction attachment



Feb. 5, 1963 J. F. WYLLlE FOOTWEAR TRACTION ATTACHMENT Filed March 23, 1962 INVENTOR. JAMES A WILL IE wax Mg "itc State This inventionrelates to a footwear traction attachment, and more particularly, to an attachment for shoes or the like, whereby conventional footwear may be uti lized when participlating in sporting events or the like.

The attachment of the present invention is particularly adapted for converting conventional footwear to enable the same to be utilized while participating in sporting events such as golf, croquet, etc. The attachment of the present invention is preferably a one-piece plastic attachm-ent having an elastomeric strap adapted to extend around the heel portion of the shoe. The attachment includes a flexible, slightly bowed plastic base of uniform thickness. Upright flanges having curved ends are provided on opposite sides of the attachment for cooperation with the sole of a shoe. The base is provided with dependent hollow cleats.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel shoe attachment which is simpler, cheaper, and easier to use than those proposed heretofore.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel one-piece nylon traction attachment for conventional footwear thereby enabling such footwear to be utilized while participating in sporting events.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel traction attachment having dependent cleats which are integral with a base and stronger than those proposed heretofore.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a traction attachment for footwear having a novel mounting strap which facilitates more rapid application of the attachment to footwear.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the traction attachment of the present invention. 7

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the mounting strap for the traction attachment of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a .view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a traction attachment for footwear designated generally as 10.

The traction attachment 1%} includes a flexible slightly bowed plastic base of uniform thickness designated as 12. The base 12 is preferably made from a synthetic plastic resin such as nylon which is lightweight, non-corrosive, and sufiiciently flexible so that the base may flex with movements of the footwear. The base 12 has a periphelrlal shape corresponding generally to the half sole of a s cc.

The converging side edges of the base 12 are provided with outwardly extending projections 14 and 21. A plurality of spaced upright flanges 15, 16, 18 and 2d are integral with the projection 14-. A plurality of spaced up right flanges 22, 24', 26 and 28 are integral with the projection 21. Each of the flanges has a straight vertical portion which merges into a curved free end as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The curved free end on the flanges is adapted to overlap the top edge of the sole of a shoe or the like.

The base 12 is provided with av plurality of spaced integral depending cleats 34. The cleats 34 are hollow as a result of the provision of the recesses '32. It will be noted that the contour of the recesses 32 correspond generally with the contour of the cleats 34. The provision of the recesses 32 materially increase the strength of the cleats. I have found that solid cleats are more easily broken than hollow cleats as per the present invention.

The base 12 is provided with a shank portion 36 which is smaller in width than the central portion of the base 12. A pair of buttons 38 and 49 are provided on opposite sides of the instep portion as and are integral therewith. The buttons 38 and 40 facilitate the mounting of a strap designated generally as 42.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, the strap 42 includes a Wide flat central portion 44 having an integral connecting portion 46 extending from one end thereof. The connecting portion 46 is preferably cylindrical in transverse cross section for increased strength. The central band 44 is flat and rectangular in transverse cross section so as to provide for a maximum friction contacting surface. The connecting portion 46 terminates in a flat end band 48 having spaced holes 5% and 52. The holes 50 and 52 selectively cooperate with the button 32%. The provision of the two holes so and 52 provides for adjustment of the strap 42.

A connecting portion 54 is integral with and extends from the other end of the central band 44. The connecting portion 54 is preferably cylindrical in transverse cross section for increased strength. The connecting portion 54 terminates in a flat end band 56 having a buttonhoie 58. The buttonhole 555 is adapted to selectively cooperate with the button 4%. The entire strap 42 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 is preferably made from an elastomeric material.

The traction attachment 1%) of the present invention is utilized as follows:

The upper surface of the base 12 is juxtaposed to the bottom of a sole of a shoe. The shoe is moved from the shank portion 36 toward the toe portion of the base 12 so that the curved free ends of the upright flanges extend over the upper edge of the sole. Thereafter, the strap 42 is stretched and extended around the heel of the shoe so that the central band 44 may overlie the heel portion of the shoe. The elasticity of the strap 42 facilitates the rapid anchoring of the attachment to a shoe.

If the attachment 10 is too loose, the strap may be adjusted so that the button 38 extends through the buttonhole 52. This will increase the tension in the elastomeric strap 42. In order to remove the attachment, the strap 42 is stretched pulled downwardly around the bottom of the shoe, and then pressure is exerted on the base 12 in a direction away from the heel and toward the toe of the shoe. The entire operation of applying the attachment 19 to a shoe or removing the same therefrom takes less than five seconds for each shoe.

The entire traction attachment 1%, excluding the strap 42, is preferably molded in one integral piece from nylon. The strap 42 is preferably molded in one integral piece from an elastomeric material such as rubber. The provision of buttons 38 and 4t) and the buttonholes 5d, 52 and 58 facilitates the rapid application of the strap 42 to the base 12.

The present invention may be embodied in other speciiic forms without departing from the spirit or cssentifi attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A one-piece traction attachment for footwear comprising a flexible slightly bowed plastic base of uniform thickness corresponding in shape to the half sole of a shoe, integral upright flanges on opposite side edges of said base, the free ends of said flanges being curved inwardly, hollow integral cleats depending from a bottom surface of said base, and buttons on opposite side edge portions of the shank portion of said base.

2. A one-piece traction attachment in accordance with claim 1 including a mounting strap of ela-stomeriemate rial, said strap having a flat central band, said band being connected to flat end bands by connecting portions,.the connecting portions being substantially smaller in trans verse dimensions that the width of the centralband, and each end band having a buttonhole for cooperation with one of said buttons.

3. A one-piece traction attachment in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connecting portions are cylindrical References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,971 Smith et. al. Apr. 23, 1.935 2,489,289 Haserodt Nov. 29, 1949- 2,493,563 Arieti Jan. 3, 1950 2,664,650 Sabbagh Jan. 5, 1954 

1. A ONE-PIECE TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR FOOTWEAR COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE SLIGHTLY BOWED PLASTIC BASE OF UNIFORM THICKNESS CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO THE HALF SOLE OF A SHOE, INTEGRAL UPRIGHT FLANGES ON OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID BASE, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FLANGES BEING CURVED IN- 